Engine starter



C. MARCUS ENGINE STARTER Oct. l? 1929.

Filed May 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 1, 1929. C, MARCUS 1,730,226

ENGINE STARTER Filed May 18, 1925 2 Sheets-sheet 2 AEN Patented Oct. l1,1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i CHARLES MARCUS, F NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR TO'ECLIISE MACHINE COMPANY,

' OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK Application illed lay18,

My invention relates to starting apparatus .for the starting of internalcombustion engines, and the same in the present case is moreparticularly designed for use in connection with the engines ofairplanes. My present invention concerns the construction andl mode ofoperation ofthe drive or transmission which is located between theengine and the source of power whether it be a manual device or a-primemover, such as an electric motor.' The object of my invention is toprovide a novel, eiicient and improved construction of drive whosefeatures of advantage and utility will be apparent from the descriptionhereinafter given.

In the dr wings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a starting aparatus embodying my new construction of rive or transmission, suchsection being taken on the irregular line 1-1 of Fig. 4; Fig. 2 a detailsection illus-v trating the condition of the apparatus when the manuallyoperated device is removed; Fig. 3 an elevation of the apparatus viewedfrom the pinion' or engine engagin end of the apparatus, that is theleft han ofFig. 1; and Fig. 4 an elevation from the opposite side orvendl of the apparatus.

In the present instance, I have shown a. complete engine start-ingapparatus, and in addition, have ishown two sources of power to-wit, anelectric motor vand a manually operated device, either one or both ofwhich sources of power may be usedin the same apparatus, but it will beunderstood that my present invention is concerned only with thestructure and operation of the mechanism constituting the drive ortransmission between ysuch sources of power and the member of the engineto be started, the manually op'- erated device in combination with thedrive being made the subject matter of a co-pend ing application forpatent. l

i Describing the engine starting apparatus yin its completeness asherein illustrated, the

drive or transmission is substantially contained and supported by a maincasing 1 and a supplementary'x casing 2 secured thereto in a suitablemanner as by means of screws 3. These casings 'support the electricmotor 4 which is vertically disposed so that its arma- -`Iplementarycasing `scribed.

, ENGINE STARTER 1925. Serial No. 30,916.

ture shaft is vertical and provided at its lower end with a drivingpinion 5. The sup- 2 forms the support or place of attachment of themanually operated device 6 whose operating shaft 7 is provided with abevel gear 8 meshing with a bevel gear-9 which is operatively connectedwith the planetary gearing hereinafter devcasing is providedwith aninternal bushing 10 within which is arranged to rotate a barrel 11.Concentric xwith this barrel and separated by a considerable annularspace is a rotatable shell 12 which is operatively connecte'd with thebarrel so as to be driven thereby with a yieldable ressure. In thepresent instance, such yiel ing driving connection is a friction clutchcomprising two sets of friction plates 13 and 14, the former of whichare splined to the interior of the barrel and the latter of which aresplined to the exterior of the shell. These friction plates are locatedin an annular space on the right hand side of an interior annular rib 15or abutment of the barrel and between the shoulder 16 on the inner endof the shell the abutment 15. On the other or left hand side of thisabutment, there is located adjustable spring pressure means foradjusting the tension or pressure upon said friction clutch plates.v

Thenecessary spring pressure is furnished to the multiple plate clutchby means of a nest of small helical springs 18 which in practice are sixin number. These springs bear at one end against a spring cage 19 whichin turn bears against an adjusting nut 20 and at the other end against aring abutment 21, such cage being preferably provided with protrudingpins 22 which enter the coils for the purpose of supporting them. r1`heabutment 21y clamps between it and the abutment or rib a disk 23 whichforms an anti-friction bearing surface between the abutment 21 and therib or abutment 15. rlhe spring pressure is transmitted through the cage19 and the nut `20 to the shell 12 to whose outer end such nut is4adjustably secured, whereby the clutch plates are clamped between thebushing 17 l@ ahd the shoulder 16 through the washer 24. Y An adjustmentfor the desired spring pressure on the clutch plates is obtained byturning in the proper direction the adjusting nut 2O which is threadedto the exterior of the shell 12. 1t will be understood that the disk 23is splined to the shell 12 in the same manner as the clutch plates 13.

' lWithin the shell 12, there is axially or concentrically arranged ascrew shaft 25 provided with long lead threads 26 which engage theinternallythreaded nut portion 27 of the shell 12 whereby rotation ofsuch shell results in the forward longitudinal movement of the shaft 25.This shaft is provided at its outer g5 end with a driving' member whichis here in the form of a splined portion adapted to engage a member ofthe engine to be started, such as the internally splined end 29 of thecrank shaft of the engine. By preference, a 3u yielding device isprovided to act upon vthe front end of the shaft to assure itslongitudinal travel for engagement with the engine member. As shown,this device consists of an internally splined friction plate 30 meshingwith the splined end of the shaft and clamped between a dished springwasher 31 and the front wall 32 of a cap 33 which encloses the outer orfront end of the drive mechanism, such cap being secured to the maincasing in suitable manner as by means of screws 34. The screw shaft 25is provided at its inner or right hand end with two nuts 35 and 36 whichare preferably screwed thereupon and constitute the inner abutment ofsuch shaft by reason of the contact thereof against the bushing 37constituting the inner or end stop for the shaft.

Describing the planetary gearing, a bevel gear 38 which meshes with andis driven by the bevel gear 5 of the electric motor is secured to ashaft 39 which is in line with the screw shaft 25. rlhe right hand endof this shaft 39 is journaled in the casing 2 and the left hand in theextended hub of the internal gear wheel 40 to which said bushing 37 issecured on its left hand side.

The bevel gear 38 forms a spider for carrying a set of preferably threeplanetary gear units, each of which comprises a hub 41 having a gear 42cut thereon at one end and a gear 43 at the` other end, the number ofteeth of the gear 42 beingless than that of the gear 43. Threeequidistant openings are preferably provided in the web of the gear 38,through C5 each of which extends one of such planetary units, each beingmounted in place by means of a bolt 44 passing transversely through thespider plates 45 and 46 and secured thereto.

and having mounted thereon a roller bearing thereof is secured to therotatable barrel 11 at the point 53.

Wvith respect to the manually operated device for hand cranking theengine, it will be sucient to state for the purposes of the presentinvention that a suitable hand crank is applied to the protruding end ofthe shaft 7 and such shaft is thereby rotated with the result that thebevel gears 8 and 9 and consequently the shaft 39 are rotated. rlhismotion is transmitted through the planetary gearing to the drive and thedrive is therebyv operated and the engine is cranked.

Describing the operation of the drive and assuming operation by eitherthe electric motor or by the m-anually operated device, when eithersource of power is operated, the barrel 11 is rotated. T his rotation istransmitted through the friction clutch to the shell 12, and inasmuch asthe latter is threaded to the screw shaft` such shaft is advanced ormoved longitudinally to the left (Fig. 1) and the splined portion 28 isthereby brought into driving engagement with the engine member 29. Whensuch splined portion is in proper and the splined portion 28 to bedemeshed,

2. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, a substantiallycylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a friction clutchoperatively connecting the barrel and shell, a rotatable longitudinallymovable shaft mounted axially and centrally of the barrel and shell andcarrying at one end a driving member adapted to engage and drive amember of the engine to be started, said shell and shaft being threadedto each other for the actuation of the shaft in its longitudinalmovements, and means for rotating the barrel.

3. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, a substantiallycylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a friction clutchoperatively connecting the barrel and shell, a rotatable longitudinallymovable shaft mounted axially and centrally of the barrel and shell andcarrying at one end a driving member adapted to engage and drive amember-of the engine to be started, means coacting with the shell andshaft for actuating the shaft in its longitudinal movements, and meansfor rotating the barrel, said clutch comprising two sets of frictionplates, one set being splined to the barrel and the other tothe shell.

4. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, a substantiallycylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a friction clutchoperatively connecting the barrel and shell, a rotatable longitudinallymovable shaft mounted axially of the barrel and shell and carrying atone end a driving member adapted to engage and drive a member of theengine to be started, means coacting with the shell and shaft foractuating the shaft in its longitudinal movements, and means forrotating the barrel, said barre/lf being provided With an interiorannular rib on one side of which the clutch is located, and clutchtightening means located on vthe other side thereof and contained withinthe barrel and cooperating with the clutch.

5. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, a substantiallycylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a friction clutchoperatively connecting the barrel and shell, a rotatable longitudinallymovable shaft mounted axially of the barrel and shell and carrying atone end a driving member adapted to engage and drive a member of theengine to be started, means coacting with the shell and shaft foractuating the shaftin its longitudinal movements, and means for rotatingthe barrel', said barrel beinggprovided with an interior annular rib onone sidel of which the clutch is located, and clutch tightening meanslocated on the other side thereof and contained within the barrel andcooperating with the clutch, suchsclutch tightening means comprising aspring acting against one end of the Vclutch to clamp it against saidrib.

6. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, a substantiallycylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a friction clutchoperativelyconnectingthe barrel and shell, a rotatable longitudinallymovable shaft mounted axially of the barrel and shell and carrying atone end a driving member adapted to engage and drive a member of theen'- gine to be started, means coacting with the shell and shaft foractuating the shaft in its longitudinal movements, and means forrotating the barrel, said barrel being provided with an interior annularrib 0n one side of which the clutch is located, and clutch tighteningmeans located on the other side thereof and contained Within the barreland cooperating with the clutch, including a series of coiledspringsacting against one end of the clutch to clamp it against saidrib.

7. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel; a substantiallycylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a friction clutchoperatively connecting the barrel and shell, a rotatable longitudinallymovable shaft mounted axially of the barrel and shell and carrying atone end a driving member adapted to engage and drive a member of theengine to be started, means coacting with the shell and shaft foractuating the shaft in its longitudinal movements, and means forrotating the barrel, said barrel being provided with an interior annularrib on one side of which the clutch is located, and clutch tighteningmeans located on the other side thereof cooperating with the clutch,such clutch tightening means comprising a spring and an abutment on theouter end of the shell, such spring acting against such abutment andthrough thev shell and against one end of the friction clutch to clampthe latter against said rib. I

8. .An engine starter drive includingl a rotatable barrel, asubstantiall cylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a rictionclutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell, a rotatablelongitudinally movable shaft mounted axially of the barrel and shell andcarrying at one end a driving member adapted to engage and drive amember of the engine to be started, means coacting with the shell andshaft for actuating the shaft in its longitudinal movements, and meansfor ro-` tating the barrel, said barrel being provided vwith an interiorannular rib on one side of which the clutch is located, and clutchtightening means located on the other side there-l of cooperating withthe clutch, such clutch tightening means comprising a spring and anabutment on the outer end of the shell, such spring vacting against suchabutment and through the shell and against onek end of the frictionclutch to clamp the latter against said rib,rsaid abutment beingadjustable to adjust the pressure of such spring.

9. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, a substantiallyc lindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a -riction clutch comprisingsets of friction plates splined to the barrel and shell respectively, arotatable longitudinally movable shaft mounted axially of the barrel and'shell and carrying at one end a dri-ving member adapted to engage andcated on the other side thereof and contained within the barrel.

10. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel having aninternal rib, a substantially cylindrical shell concentric of the barreland having an external shoulder at one end, a friction clutchoperatively connecting the barrel and shell and clamped between the riband shoulder, a rotatable longitudinally movable shaft mounted axiallyof the barrel and shell land carrying at one end a driving memberadapted to engage and drive a member of the engine to be started, meanscoacting with the shell and shaft for actuating the shaft in itslongitudinal movements, means for rotating the barrel, and adjustabletightening means acting on such clutch.

11. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel having aninternal rib, a substantially cylindrical shell concentric of the barreland havino an external shoulder at its innen end, a friction clutchoperatively connecting the barrel and shell and clamped between the riband shoulder, a rotatable-- longitudinally movable shaft mounted'axiallyof the barrel and shell and carrying at one end a driving member adaptedto engage and drive a member of the engine to be started, means coactingwith the shell and shaft for actuating the shaft in its longitudinalmove-- ments, means for rotating the barrel, and adjustable tighteningmeans acting on such clutch comprising an adjustable nut on the outerend of the shell and a series of coiled springs interposed between suchnut and rib.

12. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a frictionclutch `operatively connecting the barrel and shell,

a rotatable longitudinally' movable shaft mounted axially of the barreland shell andi centrally thereof and carrying at one end a drivingmember which is fixed thereto and adapted to engage and drive a memberofthe engine to be started, means-co-acting with the shell and shaft foractuating the shaft in its longitudinal movements, and means for 1rotating the barrel. t

Aes

13. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a frictionclutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell,

a rotatable longitudinally movable shaft mounted axially of the barreland shell and centrally thereof and carrying at one end`a driving memberwhich is fixed thereto and adapted to engage and drive a member of theengineto be started, means co-acting with the shell and shaft foractuating the shaft in .its

longitudinal movements, and means for rotating the barrel, saidco-acting means comprising threads between the shell and shaft.

14. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a frictionclutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell, a rotatablelongitudinally movable shaft mounted axially of the barrel and shell andcarrying at one end a driving member which is fixed thereto and adaptedto engage and drive a member of the engine to be started, said shell andshaft being threaded to each other for the actuation of the shaft in itslongitudinal movements, means for resisting rotary movement of suchdriving member and its shaft to assure longitudinal movel 15. An enginestarter drive including a rotatable barrel, a substantially cylindricalshell concentric of the barrel, a friction clutch operatively connectingthe barrel and shell, a rotatable longitudinally movable shaft mountedaxially of the barrel and shell and carrying at one end a driving memberadapted to engage and drive a member of the engine to be started, meanscoacting with the shell and shaft for actuating the shaft in itslongitudinal movements, and means for rotating the barrel, said barrelbeing concentric with and surrounding the shell and shaft, the latterforming the central member thereof.

16. An engine starter drive including a ro'- tatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, afriction-clutch opthe barrel, said barrel being provided with aninterior annular rib on one side of which the clutch is located, andclutch tightening meanslocated on the other side thereof and cooperatingwith the clutch, said clutch tightening means beine enclosed by saidbarrel and carried by said shell.

17. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shell ment thereof for engagement with theengine member, and means for rotating the barrel.

Shaft concentric of the barrel, a friction clutch operatively connectingthe barrel and shell, a rotatable longitudinally movable shaft mountedat one end a driving member adapted to engageand drive a member ofthevengine to be started, means coacting with the shell and Shaft foractuatingjthe shaft in its'longitudinal movements, and means forrotating the barrel, said clutch comprising two sets of -frictionplates, one set being splined to the barrel and the other to the shell,and clutch tightening means which are physically independent of saidclutch plates. Y

18'. An engine starter dri've including a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, africtionclutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell, a rtatablelongitudinally movable shaft mounted axially of the barrel and shell andcarrying at one end a driving member adapted to engage and drive amember'of'the engine to be started, 'means coacting with the shell andshaft for actuating the shaft in its longitudinal movements, and meansfor rotating the barg rel, said clutch comprising two sets of frictionplates, one set being splined to the barrel and the other to the shell,and adjustable pressure applying means for the clutch including a seriesof coiled springs whose pressure is applied to the clutch plates, and asingle adjustable device coacting with all of said springs.simultaneously for adjusting and predetermining the setting oftheclutch.v

l19. An engine starter drive including a rol tatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shell concentric of the barrel, a frictionclutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell, a rotatablelongitudinally movable shaft mounted axially of the barrel and shell andcarrying at one end a driving member adapted to engage and drive amember'of the engine to befstarted, means coactingA withpthe shellgandshaft for actuating the shaft in its longitudinal movements, and meansforrotating the ,barrel, said clutch comprising two sets of frictionplates, one set bein splined to the barrel and the other to the shel,and adjustable pres- Vsure applying means for the clutchincluding aseries of coiled springs whose pressure 1s applied to the clutch plates,and a ring screw threaded on-said shell and coacting with all of saidsprings simultaneously for adjusting and predetermining the'setting ofthe clutch.

,20. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shell arranged Within and concentric of thebarrel', a friction clutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell,a rotatable longitudinally movable driving member mounted axially andcentrally of the barrel and shell and adapted to engage and drive amember of .the engine to be started, means coacting with the shell anddriving member for actuating the latter in its longitudinal movements,said vbarrel and shell being spaced lapart to form an annular spaceaccommodating the friction shell'arifanged within and concentric of thebarrel, a friction clutch operatively connect-L ing the barrel andshell, a rotatable longitudinaliy movable driving member mounted axiallyand centrally of the barrel and shell and adapted to engage and drive amember of the engine to be started, means coacting with the shell anddriving member for actuating the latter in its longitudinal movements,and tightening means for said clutch, said barrel and shell being spacedapart to form an annular space accommodating the clutch and itstightening means.

22. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shelll arranged within and concentric of thebarrel, a friction clutch operatively connecting t-he barrel and shell,a rotatable longitudinally movable driving member mounted axially andcentrally of the barrel and shell and adapted to engage and drive amember of the engine to be started, means coacting with the shell anddriving member for actuating the latter in its longitudinal movements,and tightening means for said clutch, said barrel and shell being spacedapart to form an annular space accommodating the clutch and itstightening means, said clutch and tightening means being arranged in tandem relationship and occupying oppositel ends of said annular space.

23. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shellarranged within and concentric of thebarrel, a friction clutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell, arotatable longitudinally movable drivin member mounted axially andcentrally of-t e barrel and shell, .and adapted to engage and drive amember of f ,its

the'engine to be started, means coacting the shell and driving memberfor actuatin the latter in its longitudinal movements, sai

shell beingy rotatable but immovable longitudinally.

24. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel,asubstantiallycylindrical sliell arranged Within and concentric of thebarrel, a friction clutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell, arotatable longitudinally movable driving member mounted axially andcentrally of the barrel and shell and adapted to engage and drive amember of the e e form an annular space accommodating the frictionclutch which is composed of two sets of friction plates splinedrespectively to the barrel and shell.

25. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical rotatable shell concentrically within saidbarrel leaving an annular' space between them, a friction clutch in saidspace constantly making connection of limited torque-trans- '5 mittingcapacity between said barrel and shell, a driving member mounted withinand coaXially of said shell and arranged for lon-v gitudinal movement toengage and rotation to crank a member of an engine to be started, 10 andoperative connections between said shell and driving member for rotatingthe latter in its engine-cranking position.

26. An engine starter drive yincluding a rotatable barrel, asubstantially cylindrical shell concentrically within said barrelleaving an annular space between them, said shell being rotatablebutsubstantially immovable longitudinally with respect to said. barrel,a multiple-disk friction clutch I in said space constantly makingconnectionvof limited torquetransmitting capacity between said barreland shell, a driving member mounted within and coaxially of said shelland arranged for longitudinal movement to engage and rotation to crank amember of an engine to be started, and operative connections betweensaid shell and driving member vfor rotating the latter in itsengine-cranking position.

27. An engine starter drive including a rotatable barrel having an openend, a substantially cylindrical shell concentrically within said'barrelleaving an annular space between them, said shell being rotatable butsubstantially immovable longitudinally with respect to said barrel, amultiple-disk friction vclutch in said annular space constantly makingconnection of limited torque-transmitting capacity between said barreland shell, adjustable clutch-tightening means ar- 40 ranged in saidspace in tand m with said clutch and accessible-for adjustment at theopen end of the barrel, a driving member mounted within and coaxially ofsaid shell and arranged for longitudinal movement to engage and rotationto crank a member of an engine to be started, and operative connectionsbetween s'aid shell and driving member for" rotating the latter in itsengine-crankingv position.

enLns MARCUS;

